Category: Neuroma

We’ve all had trouble at some point in time with a pebble that gets stuck to our shoe. The normal response is to take off the footwear and shake it out. Unfortunately, if you’ve been diagnosed with neuroma, you feel that sort of sensation all the time, even when you’re not wearing shoes. It is an experience you simply can’t get rid of, and an annoying one at that. Neuromas occur owing to the growth of unwanted nerve tissue. Though these tissues are benign, they make regular activities like walking and standing quite cumbersome. The ultimate solution is nerve surgery.

What Are the Treatment Options Like?

The doctor might initially suggest conservative treatments. They might prescribe foot pads, arch supports, even orthotics to assist you in relieving the pressure that you experience on the damaged nerve. Sometimes, using roomier shoes with smaller heels help as the foot neuromas cause more pain when you’re wearing footwear that’s either too tight or has high heels. Though such methods can’t cure the problem entirely, they do stem the progression. They also help keep the symptoms in check, lowering the pain considerably while walking, standing, or bearing weight. Steroid injections are also an option.

However, if these treatments fail to make any noticeable difference in your condition, then nerve surgery might be the only solution you have to physically get rid of the damaged tissue. This is a simple and uncomplicated process and the success rate is high. What happens is that the surgeon makes an incision on top of your foot, right above the neuroma. They then evaluate the extent of nerve damage and remove the tissue, using a method known as neurectomy.

Method of Recovery

Once the operation is complete, the site of the virginia nerve surgery is dressed using surgical gauze. The dressing will have to remain in position until you take your first post-op visit to the doctor. The gauze then gets replaced. During this time, it’s very important that your foot remains dry to minimize the risk of infection. Moreover, you need to spend as much time as you can with your feet elevated above the position of your heart. It helps if you partake in minimal physical activities, and wear post-op shoes for limited walking.

The sutures are removed two weeks after the surgery, and you can then bathe the area. You’ll also be able to wear regular walking shoes. However, these need to possess stiff soles. Once three weeks or so have passed, you’ll find that it comes easier to walk in shoes. The full process of recovery can last from a month to six weeks. If you don’t have to stand much on the job, you can return to work after a week following the surgery. However, for more strenuous activity-related jobs, you should wait some more.

Neuromas are rather painful and you shouldn’t wait to get treatment. Visit a nerve specialist who can take a look at your foot and assess the current condition. This will help them develop a plan for treatment so that you no longer have to face trouble every time you take a step.